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Museums ÁRBÆR OPEN AIR MUSEM Daily guided tours Tours are rom 13:00 to 14:00 through its open air exhibits. • On permanent view. THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND 'The Making of A Nation' This exhibition is intended to provide insight into the history of the Icelandic nation from Settlement to the present day. • On permanent view
'From Poverty to Abundance' Photos documenting Icelandic fishermen at the turn of the 20th century. • On permanent view 'The History of Sailing' Iceland’s maritime history that showcases the growth of the Reykjavík Harbour. • On permanent view 'Seawomen' The fishing women of Iceland, past and present • On permanent view
REYKJAVÍK CITY MUSEUM ‘Settlement Sagas: Accounts from Manuscripts’ This exhibition has rarely seen manuscripts that tell the history of the settlement of Reykjavík. • On permanent view
Andrzej Wajda
The Last Free Thinker Polish cinema at Bíó Paradís
voked. Ultimately, he is even refused permission to buy paint. There is no place left to run to. The ultimate irony is that Wladyslaw used to support the revolution, in 1917 when it was still fresh and seemed set to liberate those who had so long been oppressed. This had gotten him into trouble with the previous, nationalistic government. Three decades later, and the communists have become exactly what they set out to oppose. Different ideology, same shit. The true artist must always stand against whatever is the thought police of the day. As an artist, he can do nothing else. Whatever the personal cost. Władysław Strzemiński was a rare, brave soul in one of the darkest days of mankind. We can only hope that those days won’t come again. The Polish Film Days have been held at Bíó Paradís in late April since 2012 in conjunction with the Polish Embassy. They are quite a boon for Reykjavík’s burgeoning Polishspeaking community and are also a welcome opportunity for locals to see some of the best cinema from a country that has become so connected with ours. (There are even Polish-Icelandic sausages now, fusing a beloved staple from both countries’ kitchens.) The marquee title at this year’s Polish Film Days, ‘Afterimage’ is still screening, so you can still get a taste of Polish culture there.
Words: Valur Gunnarsson It’s 1945 and the struggle against totalitarianism is just beginning. While the people of Western Europe celebrate the end of Hitlerism and look forward to years of Marshall Plan aid, the people of Eastern Europe brace themselves for Stalinism. Or, as the Polish Home Army would say, “We await you, Red Plague, to deliver us from the Black Death.” Director Andrzej Wajda, who died last year at the age of 90, fought in the Home Army against the Nazis, while his father was killed in the infamous Katyn Massacre by Soviet troops. He made quite a few films dealing with the period in his long career, but initially studied painting in Krakow. His final film, ‘Afterimage’, dealing with the last years in the life of real-life painter Władysław Strzemiński, is thus in some part inspired by his own experiences. Wajda uses a strong brush to tell his story. Our painter is interrupted from his work as a large portrait of Stalin obscures his window. He punches a hole in the thing to let the light in, leading to predictably dire consequences.
Photo via: Wkipedia Commons But this is, in fact, Wladyslaw’s only attempt at open rebellion. Mainly, he is content to keep his head down and concentrate on his abstract painting. But it is the terrible logic of totalitarianism that it is not content to control people’s actions, it must also invade their minds. Wladyslaw’s major crime lies not in what he does but in his refusal to actively participate in the system—not in what he says but what he does not say.
Big Brother
Most of the story is set in 1948, not quite coincidentally the year George Orwell wrote ‘1984’. Participation in the morning hate is mandatory. Perhaps an individual’s ultimate freedom lies in the right to remain silent. But even this is taken away. Abstract painting, seen in the West as largely apolitical, is here a threat to the system merely by refusing to endorse it. Wladyslaw is fired from his teaching position and gets a job painting likenesses of Stalin. A capable painter, he turns out to be quite good at this, but is again fired as his licence has been re-
VOLCANO HOUSE The exhibition gives a brief overview of Iceland’s magnificent nature. • On permanent view
REYKJAVÍK MARITIME MUSEUM 'The Coast Guard Vessel Óðinn' This vessel sailed through all three Cod Wars and has also served as a rescue ship to more than 200 ships. • On permanent view
THE ICELANDIC PHALLOLOGICAL MUSEUM Permanent Exhibition More than 215 penises and penile parts belonging to land and sea mammals of Iceland. • On permanent view
Film
Eurovision This month's special screenings at Bíó Paradís. For the complete schedule, visit www.bioparadis.is. Currently Screening • From Top To Bottoms • The Sea Of Trees • A Monster Calls • Moonlight • Genius • Afterimage • I, Daniel Blake
• Ghostbusters Party Screening! • Coppelia Live Ballet • Eurovision • Spaceballs Party Screening! • Rammstein In Paris • Child's Play Late Night Screening • Á Nýjum Stað / Eisheimat
SHARE: gpv.is/bio07
THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH COAST Daily departures at 08:30 Visit Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Skógarfoss Waterfall, Sólheimajökull Glacier and Reynisfjara the Black Sand Beach
Price: 13.400 ISK BOOK& GET ONLINE BLACK
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